Narendra Modi to interact with SRCC students on Feb. 6

05 February, 2013

Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi will interact with students of Delhi University's Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC) on February 6 on the invitation college's student union. The face to face interaction with the students may have been facilitated by the BJP leader Arun Jaitley, who is also ex-alumni of the college.

There is a growing echo within the party and outside for Narendra Modi to be next prime ministerial candidate of the BJP. In that regard, this interaction is being seen as way to attract youths towards Modi and BJP.

Some SRCC students who requested not to be named said that the preparations to welcome Gujarat CM are in full swing. “We are very excited to attend the Q&A session with Mr. Modi. We have a long list of questions for him, which include some controversial questions also. Let's see if he answers them all,” said a girl student.

Meanwhile, there are also reports that National Students Union of India (NSUI), the Congress-affiliated students' wing may protest the arrival of Modi in the college. SRCC students said that they were against any sort of protests on Modi's arrival in the college. “Why protests? He is coming to our college as chief minister of a state. Politics should not be played at this moment. We request all who are opposing his visit to drop their protest plans, if there are any?” asked an SRCC student.

Congress has been projecting its vice-president Rahul Gandhi as a youth icon. Modi's interaction is seen as a step by the BJP to counter Rahul's campaign.

At SRCC, Modi will first speak in the memory of college's founder and then answer students’ questions. The college has decided not allow any outsider in the programme. As per various reports, even media will not be allowed inside. Reports also say that Modi has accepted the invite on the condition that his visit should not cause a “law and order” issue or trigger a controversy.

The questions that are expected to be asked during the free-wheeling conversation could be on Modi’s future in national politics, on his Prime Ministerial candidature, economic policies and 2002 riots. It has to be seen whether he opts to take selective questions or answers every query.